Attorneys agitated about FLDS family plans; judge questions why Books of Mormon were removed

"Is the ultimate goal of this plan the return of the children to their parents?" asked CPS lawyer Eric Tai.

"Yes," said Esther Cox, a case worker.

• Another mother, Brenda Jessop, signed a service plan Monday agreeing to work with child welfare workers.

Throughout the hearings, the judges reminded attorneys they were not there to relitigate the initial findings that removed the 464 children and placed them into state custody. That didn't stop attorneys from trying, though.

The initial hearings got off to a rough start this morning with attorneys being required to be in multiple courtrooms at once. Long security lines also made it difficult for FLDS members and their lawyers to make it to court on time.

• An attorney for another FLDS family in court today criticized the family service plan, saying it would be nearly impossible for the parents to comply with it.

Jerri Lynn Ward, representing James and Sarah Jessop — a couple who have a number of children in state custody — said their children are scattered in foster care facilities in Texas from Amarillo to Liverpool and simply arranging visitation has proven nightmarish.

"It's creating a hardship to even effectuate the parenting plan you have put into place," Ward said.

On the stand, a CPS worker acknowledged the difficulty in keeping siblings together despite earlier claims by the agency that it would try not to split up brothers and sisters.

The unidentified worker said the agency had inadvertently separated a set of twins "that we didn't realize."

The worker went on to say, "It is difficult keeping track of all the sibling groups."

Ward also questioned the worker on how the agency can help facilitate communication among siblings, especially given their young ages. The worker didn't have any answers.

Ward also raised objections over the wording in one section of the plan dealing with home schooling. She referred to a 2005 memo signed by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Carey Cockerell that stressed home schooling alone is not an element of concern that would prompt a CPS investigation.

But in the template for each child's service plan, CPS noted that an assessment should be done to determine the children's educational needs because of their home schooling.